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UAH Hockey Saved?? Last Night. Tonight's SlapShot Radio

December 7, 2011, 9:48 AM ET [ Comments]
Paul McCann
Nashville Predators Blogger •Predators Radio Network • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Let’s start with the good news. With last night’s tweet from @SaveUAHHockey stating “People, we are alive,” last night’s meeting between new president Robert Altenkirch and the Save UAH Hockey group obviously went better than anyone dared to hope as the university announced plans to “work closely together to pursue institutional and community support to continue UAH hockey at the Division I level.” Talk about snatching victory from the jaws of defeat…

Congratulations to the grass roots effort to save this storied hockey program. Keep a close eye out for more news as these planning sessions will continue over the next few days. A great big thank you to all those who expressed their support and especially to President Altenkirch who was brave enough to go against the political tides and make this happen, it’s nice to see the good guys win one. Grudging acknowledgement to Dr. Portera who apparently has seen the error of his ways.

We’ll be chatting with Nathan Bowen, one of the leaders of the Save UAH Hockey organization tonight on SlapShot Radio.

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Four straight losses at home, a goaltender that hasn’t won a game in his last seven starts, a losing record at home. This is not the Nashville Predators team Pred Nation has grown used to seeing. In last night’s 3-2 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes, the Preds managed to tie the game twice, but couldn’t manage to get the lead. It is almost as if the team is waiting for the bad bounce, the bad call, the missed offsides…

It was the second consecutive game that the Predators were the better team on the ice, dominating play for long stretches, getting quality scoring chances and repeatedly testing Coyotes goaltender Jason LaBarbera, but Nashville just couldn’t seal the deal.

All is not lost and as quite a few writers have said in their post game comments, it is not time to push the panic button. The team is only three points out of playoff position and there is plenty of hockey left to be played. While jumping on the panic button may not be in order, the cause for concern is real.

Something isn’t right with this team…

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Random Notes

- Sorry, but Brendan Shanahan has not corrected the mistake he made a month ago, he has compounded it. The suspension of Jordin Tootoo is downright silly, and the explanation video is even sillier. He undermines his own rules by going outside the guidelines of his own process. Let’s just call it what it is, Tootoo is serving the suspension that should’ve gone to Milan Lucic. Then makes it worse on the Booth non-suspension.

- Huge kudos to the crowd at Bridgestone Arena last night… you guys were a hoot! Especially the dance party that broke out in the third period and the “Just a Friend” singalong… were there half price beers last night???

- If you haven’t read the New York Times feature on Derek Boogaard… you need to. It is one of the most well researched, insightful pieces I have ever read. The reporter, John Branch, will be joining us tonight on SlapShot Radio. You can find part one of the feature here. A must read for every hockey fan.

- The shocking discovery of CTE in the testing of Derek Boogaard’s brain has concerned many former athletes. In talking to several former players, you can hear their concern about this issue. I don’t believe this issue is going away anytime soon.

- Somebody break up the Jets… with their win over Boston last night, they break above the .500 mark for the first time this season. It was Boston’s first regulation loss since Oct. 29th.

- The biggest complaint I have heard about realignment? Trading in one trip to California every year for additional trips to Minnesota and Winnipeg in the dead of winter. :)

- The Board of Governors meeting is complete and we’ll be chatting with ESPN.com’s Scott Burnside tonight on SlapShot Radio to get his take.

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You are invited to follow me on Twitter. Search for @PredPAPaul… Not only will I be updating when I get news or updates, but we are having a bit of fun by getting your input on Gnash introductions, weigh in on Twitter and who knows, we may use your introduction for the best mascot in the NHL at the next Preds game!

Also... make sure to "like" SlapShot Radio on Facebook... here's the link.

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On the next SlapShot Radio, built by RiverBirch Homes

We have a very special show on tap this week… we welcome New York Times journalist John Branch, author of a fascinating series in the Times called "Punched Out - The Life and Death of a Hockey Enforcer." We will then get a report from the Board of Governor's meeting in California from ESPN.com’s Scott Burnside. We will preview Saturday night's Anaheim game with Dan Wood, radio color analyst with the Ducks and we'll cap off the show with an update from Huntsville, Alabama with one of the leaders of the Save UAH Hockey effort, Nathan Bowen. That is all tonight at 6 on 102.5 the Game… SlapShot Radio is built by RiverBirch Homes.

More past episodes are also posted on the SlapShot Radio website.

Click here to listen or download.

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